~Canada's PoV~
My eyes flickered open. I sat up, rubbing my pounding head and looking around.
Where am I? This isn't the hospital... I breathed. The room was a relatively dark brown.
"Is anyone there?" I called out. My voice sounded dry, even though I had just been sleeping. How long has it been since I've been asleep, I wonder?
A crack of light showed up from the corner of the room, widening. A figure walked in, a plate in one hand, the other manipulating the door.
Alfred turned around, and a broad grin spread across his face.
"Oh! Dude, you're awake! I thought you'd be soon, so I brought some food." I blinked. What did he say about us...? Best friends, right?
"Eh... Thanks." I said as he put the plate down beside me. There were flat, golden circles that were completely drenched in a brownish liquid.
"Pancakes and maple syrup. They were your favourite before the... Accident. I figured they could help kindle some memories," He muttered as he sat down on the edge of the bed, "How's the head?" Reaching out a hand to touch my forehead, I swear his cheeks had reddened slightly at the action.
"A-Alfred, you should be worried about yourself getting sick. You're red."
"Wha-? Oh, um, yeah, sure. Sick. That's why. Yeah. Dude, I'll be fine. I don't get sick very easily. Dude..." He quickly retracted his arm, suddenly refusing to meet my eyes directly. He said 'dude' twice though... Is he really okay?
"I'm fine," He insisted, "Really."
"Eh? How did you know what I-"
"Things show pretty clearly on your face, bro. I always said you needed to work on that."
"Bro..?"
"I-I just call people that sometimes, as a replacement for 'dude,' you know? Bro?" He stumbled, "Man, for a guy with no memories, he sure does pick up a lot..."
I didn't know if I was supposed to hear that last part, so I didn't mention it.
"Well, Mattie, eat. Please. Okay? You have to be hungry. I'm not taking otherwise, dude." His speech was still awkward, but nonetheless I silently obliged.
He sat there watching me as I ate, his blue eyes a flurry of emotions.
"You sure you're alright though, Mattie?" He asked softly once I had finished eating. He took the plate and put it on a nearby table. I nodded slowly, hesitantly, before actually answering.

~America's PoV~
"I just don't know what the right answer is anymore, Alfred. I don't know who I am. Who you are. What little I've remembered is one mass of faces and odd names, but I can't sort them out. And it drives me insane, because there's a voice inside me that says I should know. That I should remember everyone, but I can't. I can't even tell if they're real people."
"Don't ever let the right or wrong answer stop you. It doesn't matter what the answer is, Matthew," I used his full name without really thinking about it, "What does matter is if you know what questions to ask."
"How do I know what questions to ask if I don't know what's true or false?" He muttered, pulling his legs up to his chest and looking away. I smiled, patting his shoulder.
"I'm here, Matthew. I'll always be here." Mattie paused, blinking slowly as he turned back to meet my gaze. He was silent for several seconds, just looking at me. I smiled reassuringly, before he drew a breath.
"We're not really human. We're personifications of the countries involved the world. True or false?" I forced myself not to yelp in surprise. That wasn't one of the questions I had been expecting, at least not so soon.
"True..." I muttered, "But, when did you-?"
"I sorted it out from my first memory... People were calling each other names that didn't feel natural, and the same word kept going my head."
"Personifications..." I breathed. He nodded slowly. "Do you know who you are?" I asked, a glimmer of hope. That glimmer died though, when he shook his head.
"No. Nobody addressed me in the memory... It was like I wasn't even there, now that I think about it." A pan shot through my heart. I nodded.
"You're..." I hardly stopped myself on time. He looked at me questioningly.
"I'm...?"
"I... Can't say. Sorry Mattie." I muttered.
"I get it. There's a reason, isn't there?" I nodded in response.
"I'm under orders from an old... Friend to not force any memories on you. Because we're basically living history, we can't afford to change your personality. None of us have ever gotten amnesia before, so there's no telling what could happen if one of us were altered because of memories coming back in the wrong order." Because of Germany...
"Because it would alter history..?"
"For a dude with no memories, you're not exactly childish like normal. You still act like you remember everything. You're still faster than I am at piecing things together." He gave a short bark of laughter.
"I'm glad it appears that way, because I've been nothing but lost this entire time, eh."
"I can imagine." I smirked. He looked at me sidelong after a few minutes of silence. I cocked an eyebrow.
"What?"
"Who're you? Nation wise, I mean... I think I know, but I just want to make sure," He asked, then added hastily, "If you can tell me, that is."
"I don't think there would be much of an issue if I did..." I stood up, taking a few large steps away from the bedside and bowing deeply.
"United States of America, at your service. Also known as U.S, America, or Alfred F Jones. F stands for freedom," I stood up straight again, winking mischievously, "But you can just call me Alfred, or Al. Or Alfie, if you really want."
"Duly noted," He laughed, "Do you always make a show of yourself?"
"Depends on who you ask," I grinned cheekily, "I think I'm just unique."
"Oh really? How so?" He dramatically kicked his legs over the side of the bed, leaning against his legs and looking at me patiently.
"We nations tend to pick up the personality and quirks of our people. And us Americans are fun, to put it lightly."
"How is that lightly?" He laughed again.
"If you ask Iggy or really anyone else, they'll call me a gluttonous idiot. I just let them think what they want."
"I will keep that in mind." Something hit me then as I looked into his violet eyes, which for the first time were sparkling joyfully.
"Oh! Dude, that reminds me. There's someone I want you to meet!" I grabbed his hand, pulling him out of bed and towards the door. He looked back, unsure.
"But, Alfie, the plate-"
"I'll get it later. Come on!" I yanked him along, down the hall without giving the Canadian a chance to argue.
"A-Al..."
"Mattie, trust me. No questions."
"I-It's not that..." I heard a small crash and whipped around. He had slumped against the wall, his eyes unfocused and he was unbalanced on his feet as if he were drunk.
"Mattie?!" I asked worriedly, immediately grabbing him before he could fall over.
"E-Everything's spinning..." He groaned. I mentally kicked myself for being such an idiot. The guy hasn't walked in a century, and I pull him out of bed without giving him a chance to center himself? Stupid...
"Take your time, dude." I said softly, lowering both of us so we were sitting on the carpeted floor.
"America? M-Mister..?" A small voice said from a little way down the hall. I heard small paw steps approaching us and looked up.
"Kuma, come on," I smiled encouragingly at the polar bear cub, "He's fine. Just dizzy is all." By the time I had finished talking, Kumajiro had jumped forward and crashed into Mattie's side. If a polar bear could be said to cry, there wasn't much doubt in my mind that the little guy would be.
"M-Mister..."
"Who...?" Mattie asked, raising a hand and rubbing his head. I saw Kuma's white pelt twitch and the cub looked over to me.
"He doesn't know me..?" I shook my head.
"He's lost his memories, Kuma. They'll come back over time... Meanwhile, you can't call him by his nation name or talk about anything that happened in the past. We need to let him remember himself. Got it?" I explained. The cub didn't answer, only nodded and faceplanted himself into Mattie's side again.
"You... D-Don't remember y-yourself, Mister..." He said jerkily. Mattie pulled the cub into a gentle hug, his eyes a little more focused now. I'm surprised he hasn't freaked out a polar bear cub is hugging him... Though I'm not even sure if he would remember that bears are generally dangerous, especially since Kumajiro's so friendly... Oh well. It's pretty cute, actually. I smiled despite myself, watching the two.
"No... I'm sorry, Kuma." The cub whimpered softly.
"A-After e-everything I d-did..."
"Kuma..?" I asked. The cub didn't answer for a few seconds.
"I-I always remembered h-his n-name... I-I always a-asked him so h-he w-wouldn't forget himself... M-Mister went through s-so many names, I was a-always so s-scared he would o-one day f-forget h-himself... W-who h-he w-was..." I didn't think the cub could continue. I looked at Mattie, who was just sitting there watching him silently, stroking the soft white fur on his head. Don't cry, Alfred. You're the hero... Heroes don't cry... Surprisingly enough, it was him that spoke next.
"Kuma, it wasn't your fault that I lost my memory," No, it was Germany's... "It wasn't the fault of anyone. I don't blame you. For anything. So don't blame yourself."
"Mattie..." I said, so quietly it seemed like I was talking to myself. Ironic... Normally he was the one who was never heard. Just now, though, he's the one that didn't hear. Maybe we'll never get the old Mattie back, whether memories are forced on him or not...
"B-But Mister..."
"Kuma." My voice hardened. The cub looked back at me for the first time, and I shook my head. Mattie's gaze flickered between us, but he said nothing. I silently thanked him. I didn't think Kumajiro fully understood what would happen if we reminded him of anything; and I couldn't blame him. He wasn't one of us, even if he was a bonded animal - a constant companion for a nation.
We all had a natural aptitude for befriending animals, and certain creatures even decided to stay with us. None of us knew how, but those creatures became immortal, just like us. Norway, the wizard that specialized in creatures out of the other magic wielding nations, assumed that they became linked to our land after spending enough time with us, though he couldn't figure out why, or how.
"Well, I should really get that plate..." I hastily dipped away, before stopping and looking back over my shoulder, "You'll be fine by yourself for a bit, Mattie?"
"Yeah. I have Kuma." Normally he would've put an 'eh' after that... My heart throbbed painfully at the realization. I'm not sure if we'll ever get our soft-hearted Canadian back either way, Arthur...
"Right," I laughed, not letting my doubt show, "Remember Kuma, no names or memories. Got it?" The cub nodded briefly and I turned back around, speed walking down the hall. I finally have him back, I'm not letting Canada out of my sight for more then ten minutes. No way.

A/N: I FORGOT MY CLARINET FOR SCHOOL SO THIS IS BEING FINISHED IN MUSIC CLASS. *sob*
Because of the mucked up format in the last chapter I didn't follow the old thing again; I'll be picking that back up next time. Also, I'm trying to keep Al in character, but it's really difficult. _ He's too much of a shits-and-giggles guy ninety percent of the time. That's probably one of my worst character personalities.
I need to say this though... OH MY GOSH KUMAJIRO. THAT HONESTLY BROKE MY HEART TO WRITE. EXCUSE ME WHILE I GO TO MY CORNER AND SOB TO MYSELF.